ED SHEERAN has revealed he almost chose the stage name 'Redward' during the early days of his career, but is glad he didn't due to the subsequent rise of Irish singing duo Jedward.
Redward was supposed to be a nod to Sheeran's ginger hair, and he considered using it when he saw his real name on posters and thought it looked a bit odd.
A few months later, Jedward appeared on The X Factor, and Sheeran counted his lucky stars he decided against taking the new stage name.
"When I was 16, 17 or maybe 18, I considered changing [my stage name] to Redward, and then Jedward came on X factor and I was like 'I'm so happy I didn't'," the Bad Habits star told the Off Menu podcast.
"That was quite a weird thing at the start of my career because everyone thought [Ed Sheehan] was a stage name. They were like it sounds so much like a stage name.
"I always thought it was quite an odd thing to see on a poster."
Ed and Jedward have since become good friends, and Sheeran recalled the first time he met the twins after spotting their trademarks quiffs as he drove past them on the streets of Toronto, Canada.
"I was driving though Toronto and I just saw them," Ed explained.
"They were just walking down the street and I rolled down my window, I was like 'Jedward', and then I picked them up and took them to my hotel room.
"And then instantly I was like 'oh f*ck, what have I let myself in for' 'cause they were going on Google and showing me signed Justin Timberlake CDs.
"And they were like 'we're going to order this one and we're going to order this one too. What do you think about this, Ed?'
"And I was like, 'guys, I need a sleep', so I went to my room and fell asleep and then they left and I didn't see them again for a while."
Sheeran revealed he even turned down an opportunity to hang out with Beatles legend Paul McCartney to spend time with the Irish twins.
"I did a Beatles event and Paul McCartney was at it and I was meant to hang with him afterwards, but I said no to go hang with Jedward.
"They're really sweet."
